Folding crate.



W. H. NAUMAN. moms cRA TE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. I914 Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nnrrnn srarns raraN'r orrron.

WILLIAM H. NAUMAN, OFPI-IILADELPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed April 22, 1914. Serial No. 833,789.

larly to that class of crates which are fold-. "able to reduce the size of the same for shipping or storing.

object of this invention is the provision of a folding crate which comprises a bottom having side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, the'end walls also having top sections hingedly connected thereto which are adapted to close the top of the crate.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a folding crate comprising a bottom. having upstanding flanges extend ing from its side and end edges, the flanges having side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, each of the side Walls comprising two sections hingedly connected together, the end walls carrying means for holding the sections of the side walls in upright position, and each of the end walls also carrying a section of the cover for closing the upper end of the crate. V

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a folding crate comprising a bottom having side and end walls rigidly connected thereto, the end walls having sections of the cover hingedly connected.thereto, the side walls being adapted to be folded inwardly toward the bottom of the crate,

and the end walls and cover sectionsbeing adapted to be folded on top of the folded side walls so that the size of the crate is materially reduced for convenience in shipping or storing the same.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate, showing the same in set up position; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig.4 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the side walls; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view, showing the manner of connecting the side and end walls; Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the crate in folded position; and Fig. 7 is a sec tional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the bottom of the'crate which is formed with upstanding side flanges 2 at its opposite side edges, and

upstanding end flanges 3 at its opposite end edges, the end flanges being of slightly greater height than the side flanges. Connected to the upper edge of each of the side flanges 2 is a'side wall 4 and each of the side i A Walls comprising a pair of sections 5 which are hingedly connected together so that the upper section of each side wall may be folded inwardly upon the lower section thereof.

The ends of the side walls 4: terminate slightlyshort of the end flanges 3 and hingedly connected to the upper edges of the end flanges are the end walls 6, each of the end Walls 6 being provided at its opposite side edges with inwardly extending spaced guide plates 7 for engagement with the opposite faces of the sections 5 of the side walls at their opposite ends to prevent inward movement or folding of the side walls when the crate is in set up position. Connected adjacent to the opposite ends of the upper sections of the side walls are the loops or staples 8 and pivotally connected to the end Walls adjacent their upper edges are hooks 9 for engagement with the loops 8 on the side walls to prevent outward swinging of the end walls when the crate is in set up position.

Formed in the inner face of each of the side flanges 2 intermediate of its ends is a vertically disposed roove 10, and formed in the inner faces of t e sections 5 of the side walls 4 are similar grooves 11, the grooves 10 and 11 being adapted to register at their ends'when the side walls are in upright position. Connected to the sections 5 of the side walls of the side flanges 2 on opposite sides of the grooves are guide plates 12, the opposing edges of which project over the grooves in spaced relation from each other, and mounted in the alined grooves when the side walls are in upright position are partition plates 13 which are provided with oppositely extending flanges 14 at their ends,

the flanges being adapted to engage behind the projecting portions of the guide plates V 12, the flanges 14 serving to rigidly maintain the partition plate in position in the-crate and also to additionallybrace theside walls vertically when the crate is in set up position.

Hingedly connected to the outer edges of" the end walls6 of the'crate are the top. sec.-

'tions 15 and 16, the sections 15 and 16 being adapted to engage at their opposite sides against the upper edges of the upper sections 5 of the side walls 4 when the crate is in set upv position, and the sections 15 and 16 carrying inwardly extending plates 17 on the opposite side edges which are adapted to en- 15 V c v a 1 V to form tight joints at the top of the crate.

gage the outer facesof the outer sections 5 The opposing edges of the sections 15 and 16 when the-top *is closed are adapted to fit closely adjacent each other, and connected to the outerface of the section 15 at itsouter 'eirtreinity is a strip 18 which projects outwardly beyond the section 15, the strip beingadapted to engage over the outer face of the section 16 at its opposing edge toprovide a water tight joint between the sections of the top.

.Formed in the outer face of the strip 18 is a longitudinal groove 19 in which is mounted a locking rod 20, the intermediate portion'of which is looped as at 21, and the opposite ends of which project outwardly throngh the opposite ends of the strip and itre ofi'set'later'ally as at 22 to form locking use a A pair of plates 23 are secured at their opposite longitudinal edges to the outer face of the strip 18, the intermediate portion of eachplate being formed'with'a longitudinally extending 'crimped portion 2 1 to rec'eive the'rod 20, whereby the locking rod is rotatably connected to the outerface of the strip. i

I Connected to the outer face of each' outer section 5 of the end walls are keeper plates 25, the plates projecting beyond the outer edges of the'side walls and beingprovided withhooked portions 26 to receive the looking lugs of therod 20 whereby the topsections are maintained in close position. Seo cured in the outer face ofthe section 16 of the top adjacent itsfree edge is a staple 27 7 over which the looped portion 21 of the looking rod 20 is adapted to engage, so that a lock 28 of any desired construction may be secured in the staple above the looped portion 21 to securely lock the top sections against the upper ed es of the side walls.

. A crate constructe in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted for use in paclr'ing eggs, the egg nests (not shownfbeing-adapted for disposal on the opposite sides of the partition plates 13 and when it is desired to fold my improved crate, the

top sections 15 and 16' are'swung to an open position and the egg removed from the body of the crate; With the top sections in I open position, the partition plates 13 are removed fromengagementwith the side walls of the said flanges of the crate and placed in thexbottom of the crate together with the outwardly sufiiciently so that the ends of the j f'side walls can be removed from behind the flanges 7. With the side walls in folded 7 position,fthe end wall 6 which isc'onnected to the 'sho'rterof theend flanges 3 and the section of the top connected thereto are swung inwardly to rest'upo'n the folded side walls, whereupon the other 'end wall 6 and,

the section 15 of the topiareswung downwardly and inwardly upon the first men" tioned end'wall and topisection, and this position thesize of the crate is materially drawings;

-T0. l ck th r n lde os t a staple is fsecured in the outer face ofone of the end walls 6 adjacent its inneriend, so

loop21 o'f the locking rod "20'Inay be en- 'reda ee as illustrated i )6 er the that when-thefcrate is in'folded'position', the

gaged over the staple' 29, and the, lock 28 r s 7 passed through the staple so that thecrateis v securely loclred in knocked down: or folded position. i f A Erom'the aboye description, taken in con nection with theaccornpanying drawings,it

' will be seenthat I have provided a folding crate which comprises 'a minimum number anufactured, and one which maybe readily locked inj'set up position or-locked nfolded the crate the latter position be- 1 materially reduced size'.' i

l ii s urn ff 11y idf b d y what I desire o clairn andselclure by Letters Patentis;

folding crate including a bottom having upstanding side and end 'fianges,side

and end walls hingedly' connected to said side and end flanges, means connecting said side and end walls when inset up position,

said side walls having vertically disposed invention, I 115 V fre ts w e by th 'ls me may ap y grooves arranged in opposed relation, guide plates secured upon'opposite sides of the grooves, a division'board having oppositely disposed flanges formedin each side thereof and adapted to movably mounted behind said guide'plates, top section's hingedly connected to the'end walls and adapted to fold 7 inwardly, a rotatable rod jcarried by oneof the top sections and having oflset portions,

and hook members adapted to engage over the offset portion at the ends of the rods to retain the top sections in theirclosed positionsf 2. A folding crate consisting of a bottom having upstanding side and end flanges, sectional side and end walls hingedly connected to said side and end flanges, the side walls and side flanges being provided with Vertically disposed grooves arranged in opposed relation, guide plates secured upon opposite sides of the grooves, a division board having opposed flanges formed at opposite side edges and adapted to be engaged behind said guide plates, a sectional cover, each of said sections being hingedly connected to the end walls and adapted to fold inwardly upon the division board, a strip formed at the outer extremity of one of the top sections and adapted to project beyond the opposite top section when in a closed position, a rotatable rod carried by the strip, offset portions formed at the ends of said rod,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). 0. 

